Why is there a bulldog in the moon? Just–why?
On the one hand, many lullabies are nightmare fuel, if you take more than a second or two to think about them. On the other, the video version of Shawn Colvin, the Starlighter doesn’t require that second. The video took real skill to make, no question. I just don’t know who it was made for. I mean, clearly whoever decided to put this in the “kids” category has a sadistic streak, but do its creators?
First, there are the eyes. The eyes! See, these are animated paper figures and their eyes move. They jerk from side to side in a disconcerting fashion before the figure blinks and the eyes disappear all together. It is truly spooky and not at all reasuring.
The animation is based on Victorian paper theaters and shows considerable skill. According to the description, “each scene contains hundreds of layered illustrations,” and I can well believe it. I cannot blame directors Jordan Stone and Martin Hughesf or wanting to show off the set from behind as well as in front, no matter how surreal this makes matters. But why did they choose demon children to be thier off screen animators? I mean, just look at them! Thate second girl is absolutely planning on burning everything down the first chance she gets:
That theater is going to burn and all those cardboard figures will be ash in the wind.
No child should go to sleep before they’ve seen a paper character groping after her floating head.
The visuals get increasingly strange as the video goes on with rat-tailed dogs, frog conductors, and a general sense that the world is coming unraveled as the video approaches its end. Then comes “I Had a Little Nut Tree.” The king of Spain’s daughter visits, pears are picked, and the nut tree’s owner throws her head up into the air. She throws her head. Of course she does. No child should go to sleep before they’ve seen a paper character groping after her floating head.
So, what do you think? Is this accidental nightmare fuel, or is it totally intentional nightmare fuel?
Should you wish to explore the question further, you can watch Shawn Colvin, the Starlighter on Amazon. If you just want a rather pleasant voice singing lullabies and don’t mind the inclusion of a dead goose or so, the MP3 versions of the songs are available, floating heads not included.
Never mind the dog in the moon. I’m more worried about the baby! That void in its face–what has it been eating? Is it going to come after me in the night?
Mommy!
